by Gerald Lopez
“Were you expecting anyone?” Rory said.
“Not that I know of,” Samuel said. “It’s not a vamp. But I’m not sure who it is or what they want.”
“Stay put with the kids,” Rory said. “I’ll see what our visitor wants.”
Samuel tried to reach Rory’s mind with his to see what was happening but Rory blocked him. He could actually feel him laughing inside. “Dada’s getting too good at this vampire thing,” he said to the kids.
“I’ve got a surprise,” Rory said when he returned with his hands behind his back. “Aileen and Samuel, close your eyes and open your mouths.” When they’d done so, he placed a vanilla macaroon in each of their mouths.
“Mmm,” Aileen said.
“No comment from you, Daddy,” Rory said.
“I had something even tastier in my mouth earlier. I liked the cream in that better.” He chuckled then kissed Rory and pulled him down on top of him.
Rory sat in front of Samuel with his arm around Aileen, but Aileen squirmed free and started working on her sand castle again.
“She’s going to be a handful,” Samuel said.
“Yes she is,” Rory said. “Has she noticed your missing leg yet?”
“When you were talking to Gerard she pointed at ‘the stump’. I told her that it was a great big boo-boo but Daddy would be better soon.”
“Boo-boo,” Aileen said then kissed Samuel’s knee sweetly.
Samuel picked her up and hugged her while swinging her from side to side gently.
“It’s so strange not seeing a bandage on your leg,” Rory said.
“Monty sealed the wound with his blood—quite a bit of it actually… to help the healing process begin. Regrowth begins almost instantly and we don’t want to restrict that in any way with a bandage. There’s no chance of infection with us.” he looked at Aileen and kissed her cheek then turned to Rory. “We also can’t infect others.”
“The boys have sure been quiet,” Rory said.
“They’ve been putting their feet in the sand,” Samuel said. “If you’ll notice, I left their feet hanging off the blanket onto the sand.”
“We have yet more company,” Rory said.
Chapter 40
Guests
“IT’S JUST ME,” MONTY said, “and I come bearing gifts.” He walked into their line of sight holding a grocery bag. “Two glass bottles of blood inside.”
“Thank you, thank you,” Samuel said. “I hope you don’t mind if I don’t get up.” He chuckled as did Monty.
“I’d ask how you two were doing, but you look happy as hell,” Monty said.
“Despite the loss of half a leg,” Samuel said and smiled.
“Papp…ppp,” Aileen said, covering her daddy and dada in spit as she spoke.
Monty handed the bag he held to Rory then picked Aileen up and hugged her.
“Papa didn’t come here empty-handed for his little princess,” Monty said, then reached into the grocery bag Rory now held, and took out a box of animal crackers which he gave Aileen.
“She’ll have more sand in that box than crackers,” Rory said. “It’s probably time we headed inside anyway.”
Monty visited with them a while and helped put the kids down for their naps before he left. Rory and Samuel retreated to the guest bedroom where they lay in bed naked next to one another. Samuel watched as Rory looked down at his “stump”.
“Doesn’t it gross you out?” Samuel said.
After running his finger along Samuel’s right knee, Rory kissed it. “No. Does it hurt still?”
“No, just my pride is hurt. I can’t believe they got me. They were so damn strong and fast. And… am I ugly now?”
“Read my mind, babe,” Rory said. “It’s completely open to you.”
“You horny devil, you,” Samuel said. “You think this leaves you free to take endless advantage of me.”
Rory laughed. “That is not what I was thinking, fool.”
Samuel chuckled. “Thank you for loving me, Rory. And for still feeling attracted to me.”
“Not to minimize what happened to you but why wouldn’t I still find you the hottest man slash vampire I’ve ever met? You’ve been doing a good job of hiding it, but you’re feeling down. I can see I’m going to have to do something to cheer you up.
“If it could involve you being a top, that would be great,” Samuel said.
“I think with some careful maneuvering we can do that,” Rory said and grinned.
When they’d finished making love, Rory lay across from Samuel and put Samuel’s foot in his lap. He began massaging it then playfully tickled it, causing Samuel to laugh.
“You were looking way too serious,” Rory said, then kissed the top of Samuel’s foot.
“I have an itch on my nonexistent toe,” Samuel said. “And my knee tingles.”
“Awww, poor baby,” Rory said then moved up and began massaging Samuel’s upper right thigh and knee.
“Are you making fun of me?”
“Actually I’m not. I feel for you, Samuel; I even felt some small portion of your pain that night. Right now my hand can feel vibrations in your thigh and knee. It’s probably your body repairing itself.”
“Probably,” Samuel said. “I saw a lot of men with missing limbs during and after the Civil War. The other wars too, but the Civil War was the first time I saw injuries of that type and magnitude. Luckily I came out unscathed. Even now I’m lucky, because my leg will grow back. What an ingrate I am.”
Rory scooted up and sat in Samuel’s lap then kissed him. “Seeing someone injured and being injured yourself are two very different things.”
“I know that. I just feel so damn helpless.”
“I’m here. Let me be an extension of you like I was in the battle.”
“Fool,” Samuel said. “I want to fuck you right now and can’t quite figure out how to do it with my tingling stump of a leg.”
“Babe, there’s an easy solution to that.”
Rory slid down Samuel’s body and began sucking on Samuel’s cock. When it was fully erect Rory positioned his ass over it and lowered himself onto the impressive erection. He moaned as the cock entered him.
“Yeah, babe, that’s nice,” Samuel said. “Are you OK?”
“Never better—you?”
“I’ve actually been better, but this works great for me at present.”
Rory leaned forward, kissed Samuel, then whispered in his ear. “Let me ride the big one for a while.”
Samuel chuckled. “Whatever you say, stud.”
After Samuel came, Rory lay down next to him and they held each other.
“It really is two of us,” Samuel said. “Neither of us alone. We’re now functioning as one unit.”
“Y’up,” Rory said.
“The guys I knew before you were scared I think,” Samuel said. “I never realized how much so till now. They didn’t see me as the same as them. We were always two separate entities never coming together fully like you and I have.”
“Vampires do tend to scare some people,” Rory said. “I’m sure your mortal lovers tried their best to be there for you, Samuel. But, since they didn’t become vampires there was probably always some sort of divide between you.”
“Yeah,” Samuel said. “I still want to get healed quickly—for you and the kids’ sake as well as my own.”
“Let me help with that,” Rory said. He sat up and straddled Samuel so that his crotch was over Samuel’s face. He then moved his cock and balls to the side and positioned Samuel’s face to his inner leg. “Drink from your favorite tap until you’ve had as much as I can give.” He felt Samuel’s fangs dig into his flesh and his lips sucking the blood from him.
Samuel closed his eyes and enjoyed the sensation. Not just the blood flowing freely into his mouth but what he felt from Rory. He offered himself up so completely and freely to him. At the point where most vampires would pull back, Rory didn’t. He’d give himself to Samuel until he was bled dry and not try to stop him. By the ti
me Samuel had his fill, Rory slumped back in the bed with no energy.
“I’ll be back,” Samuel said Then reached for his crutches that were by the bed and used them to lean on as he walked out of the room.
Rory was half asleep when Samuel returned and sat next to him.
“I took a tiny bit more than I probably should have,” Samuel said then placed Rory’s head in his lap and fed him blood from the half-full glass bottle in his hand. “Drink it all. I took advantage of you, babe.”
“You can’t take advantage when I gave you everything you took freely.”
Samuel kissed him, then fed him more from the bottle. “I appreciate that. Now drink and stop blabbing so much.” He smiled. “You, my love, are sleeping in tomorrow as my thanks for your kind donation.”
“I appreciate the thought, but with three little ones in the house… that really is impossible.” He kissed Samuel deeply then slid his tongue into Samuel’s mouth and they made out for a bit before going to bed in the master bedroom.
True to form, the children woke up the household bright and early. After the twins’ diapers were changed and Aileen used the bathroom, they all went to the kitchen. Samuel fed Aileen her breakfast while she sat in her high chair. The twins were in their carrier on the island and Rory was busy heating up milk for them.
“Oh, Samuel, I forgot to tell you something,” Rory said. “I met with the home insurance people when I went shopping the other day. While in town I also talked to someone about cleaning up the debris on the property.”
“I knew about the insurance visit,” Samuel said. “Your agent just happens to be one of us—a vampire. From a different family, but an ally. The cleanup people she suggested are also vampires—from her family.”
“Cool,” Rory said. “Once the property is clear—”
“You can sell it and put the money in an account for the kids,” Samuel said. “No need to rebuild anything there yourself. You and the kids have a home here.”
“I was going to suggest something like that,” Rory said. “But I’m glad you said it first.” He walked to Samuel, who had baby food all over his face—courtesy of Aileen who’d flung some his way. “Let me try to find a clean spot on you. No luck.” After using a napkin to clean Samuel’s face, he kissed him. “Aileen loves bananas, that used to be Will’s favorite as a baby too.”
“Bananas are yummy, right, Aileen,” Samuel said as he put a spoonful of the food into Aileen’s open mouth. “This is nice—raising babies together with you, Rory.”
“I agree… it is nice,” Rory said. “I noticed that your leg has already grown back a few inches.”
“It’s going slow but it is progress.”
“Yes it is,” Rory said, then he suddenly felt they were being descended upon.
“What did you feel just now, Rory?” Samuel said.
“The presence of two very old vampires.”
“I resent that remark,” Veronique said as she entered the house and went straight to the kitchen. “Oh my God!” She focused her attention on Aileen then the twins. “They’re so adorable! They have been changed already, right?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Rory said. “And you are?”
“She is the one and only Veronique,” Samuel said. He took a long look at Veronique who’d dressed in a plain, ankle-length, floral dress, and wedges. She wore minimal makeup and had her hair up loosely. “At least I think it’s Veronique. My God, I’ve never see you wearing so little makeup… at least not since the old days.”
“She looks like just a young lass that way, doesn’t she?” a man a little taller than Samuel said as he walked into the kitchen. He wore khaki shorts, a button-down shirt, and Birkenstock sandals. His shoulder-length raven hair was a mass of loose curls.
“Yes, Sir, she does look younger,” Samuel said. “The eyes give you away, Kaelin, Sir.”
“They’re a family trait both you and Rory have inherited. He looked closely at the twins. The oldest one’s eyes are turning—they’ll be green.” His attention moved to Aileen who giggled and he smiled. “What a happy, wee, bonnie miss. Yes, I’m Kaelin your great, great something or another grandfather. No need for all the ‘Sirs’. Samuel, it’s well past time the two of us met.”
“Yes, Si—I mean, Kaelin,” Samuel said. “It’s an honor to have you in our home.”
“The honor is all mine,” Kaelin said. “We’ve not met before but I’m kept abreast of things. I’m proud to have you in my family, Samuel.” He turned to Rory. “You as well, Rory Baker.”
“Thanks, Grandpa,” Rory said and everyone laughed. “I don’t know what got into me.”
“Probably some of the old Brennan family humor,” Kaelin said. “I like you already, Rory.” He gave Rory a big bear hug and Rory hugged him back.
Veronique busied herself playing with the twins and Rory had to turn his attention back to their milk so Samuel spoke.
“What brings the two of you here? Not trouble I hope.”
“That depends on how you define the word ‘trouble’,” Kaelin said, his green eyes glistening.
Chapter 41
Defining Trouble
“HOW WOULD YOU define trouble?” Rory said.
“Well, I wouldn’t define our news as trouble,” Kaelin said then smiled.
“Of course it’s not going to be any trouble for Rory and Samuel to put us up for a few days,” Veronique said.
“Say what?” Samuel said while watching Rory hand one of the baby bottles to Veronique.
“Darling, I couldn’t not come after I heard about your injury,” Veronique said then handed the baby bottle to Kaelin. “You’re much more familiar with this than I am.”
Kaelin took the bottle, got Sean out of the carrier, held him in his arms, and fed him his milk.
“You’re an old pro at this,” Rory said to Kaelin while he fed Lochlan.
“Samuel, this is the worst injury you’ve ever had,” Veronique said. “I’ve been worried about you, my sweet.”
“I’m doing fine,” Samuel said. “Rory’s taking good care of me. But you and Kaelin are more than welcome to stay here a few days. I’m looking forward to talking with my great, great something grandpa.”
“And I you,” Kaelin said. “This is a nice homestead you have here, Samuel. I’d love to see more of it.”
A little while later, Samuel was giving Kaelin a tour of the property while they walked the twins. Amadeus kept them company. Rory and Veronique went out to the swing set with Aileen. As Veronique pushed Aileen on her swing she talked with Rory.
“You’re good for him, Rory. My Samuel needs someone like you in his life.”
“And the kids?” Rory said.
“An added bonus,” Veronique said. “Speaking of children, I’m guessing you know about my involvement in your son William’s life by now.”
“Yes,” Rory said. “Thank you.”
“Thank you? For what… I’m the one who turned your son into a crazed vampire and made a muddle of things.”
“You gave me more time with my son,” Rory said. “Time he wouldn’t otherwise have had. I’m grateful he and I had the opportunity to say good-bye. We wouldn’t have had that if he’d died in a drug den.”
“Hmm,” Veronique said. “You’re a unique individual, Rory Baker. I can sense you bear me no ill will and for that you have my thanks.” She heard Aileen giggle and looked down at her and smiled. “I’m a well-meaning sort of gal, but at times I can sure make a mess of things.”
“You’ve looked after my family a long time, haven’t you?” Rory said.
“You could say that. I managed to run into Anna during both of her pregnancies. And each time I suggested she might not want to use drugs of any sort or drink alcohol until after the children were born.”
“Again you have my heartfelt thanks. It’s too bad you couldn’t convince Anna to stay off drugs permanently.”
“I did make an attempt at that but it’s difficult to make suggestions to addicts unless they’re real
ly wanting to break their habits. Unfortunately, neither she nor William wanted to do that. William wouldn’t quit because he feared losing Anna—and he probably would have if he’d gotten clean and sober. He loved her a great deal. In any case I really did try my best to look out for your family.
“It’s because of your love for Kaelin. You’ve also cared for Samuel like he was your son…I love him and he loves you. Sounds like the makings of a good family.”
“It does indeed,” Veronique said.
“We’ve moved Aileen’s things into the guest bedroom you normally use,” Rory said, “but there should still be plenty of room for you and Kaelin in there.”
“Thank you, Rory,” Veronique said then walked to him and gave him a hug.
Samuel still sensed a concern in Veronique about the situation regarding William so he spoke again to alleviate those concerns.
“Some people are lost to us no matter what.”
Aileen began fussing and raising her hands in the air so Veronique went back to her and pushed the swing.
“Once Will became a drug addict he was already a lost soul,” Rory said. “I tried to get him all sorts of help, but nothing worked. His wife’s influence on his life prevented him from getting better. On some level I always knew I’d outlive my son because of his lifestyle. Druggies don’t tend to have long lives.”
“His suffering moved me,” Veronique said. “When I saw him in that dark, smelly, abandoned building with the other vampire I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. I honestly saw him as one of my family members who needed me. My desire to help him overcame my logic.”
“He was beyond your help… and mine. But he lived long enough to give me custody of the children and to make things right. It’s actually more than I thought he’d do.”
“In the end he became your son again, rather than a mindless addict,” Veronique said.
“Yes. And, Veronique I don’t blame you for any of it. It would’ve taken someone without a heart to be able to leave Will like that—half-dead and alone.”
Veronique sighed then changed the subject. “You certainly are what the doctor ordered for Samuel. He loves men with white or silver hair—it’s his thing. And you’re a handsome man.”
